A CLANFIELD man is focusing on a new career as a photographer after a heart operation changed his view on life.

Alan How is enjoying life through a lens having fully recovered from a heart bypass operation that made him appreciate how precious time is.

The event prompted the 62-year-old from Tillington Gardens to turn his hobby into a career with Your Day Images being recently launched.

“I wanted to do more to capture and treasure the important moments and I found the best way to do this was with a camera,” said Mr How.

“I took photography up in 2004 as a hobby and found out I enjoyed it. I was getting better and better but then I was made redundant and was soon in hospital to have a heart bypass.

“Afterwards I got to appreciate things a bit more. I started looking through a camera and by doing that you look at things differently.”

Mr How was keen on starting a business before the operation but he became even more focused after getting a new lease of life.

It took about six months for the father-of-three to get everything in place but interest in his mobile studio is growing all the time.

Most bookings involve weddings, portraits and events but the self-taught photographer loves taking pictures of wildlife and landscapes.

You can often find him taking pictures on Butser Hill or around Petersfield Heath and pond around sunrise, as he finds the practice very relaxing.

“The build-up to the launch has been six months but I’ve been preparing for it for probably a year,” said Mr How. “You never stop learning and there’s always new technology to get used to.”

An exhibition of Mr How’s work will take place at Winton House, High Street, Petersfield, on Saturday, April 1. For more information about the photographer and rates visit www.yourdayimages.co.uk